The Great Stories of the Early Church 67-Paul to Ephesus 02 The Powerful Work of the Holy Spirit at Ephesus Acts 19:1-20 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. KJV
Introduction: Undoubtedly this was one of the most powerful public ministries in the life of the apostle. The area that had been originally forbidden to him was now impacted in a powerful way by him. Note what v.10 says, all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Obviously Luke was speaking in general terms but even at that it is clear that the entire region was evangelized, the gospel piercing into every community. And the area of Asia was quite large with a number of large cities. Much of the work of the gospel in the First Century was done in this place and that work endured for a long time. Many of the cities we know from scripture were there in addition to Ephesus, which was the chief city of the province: Colosse, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Miletus, and Smyrna. And, in addition to Paul, it was also the chief area of ministry of John the Apostle. As a side note, the city of Nicea, which would come to be of great importance in the history of the church in later years, was also just north of Ephesus. To describe the region generally, though the borders shifted around over the years, it included almost all of the western portion of what we call Turkey today. We know from the end of chapter 18 that as Paul concluded his Second Missionary Journey he stopped for a brief time in Ephesus on the way back to Jerusalem and then Antioch, receiving a warm and friendly welcome there. Last week we looked at the man Apollos and his interaction with Aquilla and Priscilla, Jews who had come to Corinth from Rome and then had traveled to Ephesus with Paul and remained there. As we begin chapter 19, though, some time has passed since Paul was first in the city. He had made his way to Jerusalem, returned to Antioch to report in to the church that had sent him, and then had traveled overland to all of the churches of eastern Turkey and had made his way across the large land mass of Turkey back to Ephesus, which sat on the western coast. His first encounter was not with finished believers as we might have expected given the presence there of people friendly to his message including Aquila and Priscilla. But the first people he seems to have met were people called disciples but who had a very defective view of the message of John the Baptist and seemingly no information about Jesus, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Pentecost, or the early church movement. They had been baptized under some construction of the ministry of John the Baptist but even that understanding seems to have been defective. When Paul explained what John was doing and preaching they submitted to baptism by Paul, he laid hands on them, and then the Holy Spirit fell on them as He had on the church at Pentecost and they spoke in other languages. Without question the events which occurred in Ephesus during this two-year stay by Paul are unusual and raise for us many questions. We may not get to them all today so stay tuned for additional messages if they are needed. Some of the questions that are raised: When should a baptized person ever consider being baptized again?
What was this work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these men and should we expect the same? What about these cloths being taken from Paul to the sick? When does one decide that potential believers are hardened and withdraw from them? Is demon-possession a real thing? What does it take to cast one out? Is it ever right to lead people to burn books? Do we realize that the mighty working of God for which we say we are praying would be as disruptive to our culture as it was to Ephesus? When, if ever, should a baptized person considered being baptized again? Please understand that there are many who think that re-baptism is never appropriate. Churches which baptize infants, for example, typically think that no matter what happens to one who is baptized in infancy, he never needs to be baptized again. If he becomes a complete atheist or a totally immoral person or dishonest or a blasphemer and then repents and experiences Christian conversion, his baptism as an infant, they say, is still valid and he need not repeat it. But our text shows that at least on some occasions it is appropriate. There was a large discussion about this in church history and it continues to this very day. The Anabaptists throughout history practiced rebaptism on many who came to them from other so-called Christian churches, hence their name. Now, there were many branches of this movement and there was never a central authority which controlled them so there were different ideas and different practices but their position, as I understand it, was, generally, this. If a person was baptized while unconverted, (including as an infant) baptized by a heretical church, or a heretical preacher, baptized under any other consideration than genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, baptized other than by immersion, then that person, upon providing satisfactory evidence of True Faith and Genuine Repentance was considered never to have been baptized at all and was re-baptized. I have always agreed with that position and I think the text before us lends some weight to that argument. It seems quite self-evident to me that Paul was emphasizing that some things had to be in order before baptism was considered to be Christian Baptism. The person must have been instructed correctly concerning the message which began with John and then was carried on by Jesus and His disciples. Hence, the person must be older than a newborn and capable of understanding and embracing in a real way Christian doctrine, at least the essence of it. On that account we reject infant baptism, the baptism of the unconverted, as well as the baptisms of heretical churches. The seemingly important issue with Paul was what exactly was the baptized one understanding at the moment of baptism. That seems to have been at least one critical factor in making the determination. It is obvious to anyone who has honestly looked at the practice of baptism in the New Testament that immersion was the only means used, so we also reject the alternatives which have been
invented and called baptism. This does not mean that we think our Presbyterian friends to be heretical provided they proclaim the gospel message, but we do think them wrong in their practice of sprinkling people and calling it baptism. It must be at least minimally agreed that Paul did think there were some conditions when baptism is defective and must be repeated. What was this work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these men and should we expect the same? First of all, let us acknowledge that the Spirit worked through the apostles in ways He did not continue moving when they passed from the scene. This that was done at Ephesus was the same thing that happened on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. KJV I say that because there are some conservatives who want to play as if the Day of Pentecost was a once and forever thing which was never to be repeated. It was actually repeated, apparently, in the church at Jerusalem a short time later. Acts 4:31-33 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. KJV It is also the same thing that happened in Samaria after massive conversions happened there under the ministry of Philip. Acts 8:5-8 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. KJV Acts 8:14-17 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. KJV It seems clear to me that this falling of the Holy Spirit on those in Samaria was of the same sort that we see here at Ephesus, He came on them in power and they gave powerful testimony to the gospel and spoke in languages that they had not learned but which were intelligible to at least some of their hearers. Some have made the case that this particular working of the Holy Spirit, coming in power upon believers and causing them to speak with other languages, has continued and does continue today. But there is one glaring reality which I believe they fail to realize or acknowledge and it is found in the account of Philip s ministry to the Samaritans. While God did marvelous things through him, healing and the casting out of demons, this particular and specific work of the Spirit of God was only ever done through direct contact with an apostle. Church history goes silent on this particular manifestation of the Spirit after the death of these special servants of God. Why was it given only as a temporary thing? Why was it exclusively associated with them? Why did it cease after the apostles died? The answers to those questions must forever, at least in this life, remain guesses because of the thundering silence of the Word of God upon the topic. We must simply observe what is in front of us and embrace its reality. This specific work of the Holy Spirit was limited to direct contact with the original apostles. As much as many want this not to be the case, it actually is. That being said, Paul was continually interested in a pushing for Christians to have, experience, and seek after ever great workings of the Spirit of God in their lives. Over the last century it seems that Evangelicals have retreated into the position that what one receives from the Holy Spirit at conversion is all he is ever going to know and experience. I know that because I was taught it in Bible College. If one suggests that we ought to seek a more profound work of the Spirit in our lives he is often relegated to the category of charistmatic or at least grossly misinformed. But Paul was continually encouraging people, even this church which saw such a mighty moving of God at the beginning, to seek a deeper, more profound, and more complete working of the Spirit of God. Consider again the prayers he prayed for them and consider that he was revealing to them his heart for their spiritual progress and his definition of what spiritual progress would look like for them.
Eph 1:15-23 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. KJV You will notice that the translators decided that this was all one sentence though it has many elements. But, what I want you to notice again are the three elements in the prayer of Paul. He was praying that there would be a further working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these believers (though we think he would certainly include all believers), a working which would enhance, develop, and unfold the minds of those saints to three very specific areas of their personal lives. What is the hope of His calling, What are the glorious riches we have inherited from Him, AND... the immensity of His Power toward us who have believed only through the strength of His might. I have said before that Paul marshaled all of the Greek words at his disposal in this last clause: dunamis, energian, kratos, and iskos. I have never been able to draw any other conclusion than this; Paul was encouraging the saints that even though he was not with them so that some of the Work of the Spirit would not be repeated there was also a multi-faceted Work that was available if they would diligently seek God for it. It would of necessity be based in knowledge and not emotion, revelation which would primarily focus on what He had already revealed, that it would center upon and around Christ and His Work, and that it had explosive energy, strength and might, which would go with it. This working of God would also be necessarily tied to the believers being filled with the Spirit of God Himself as Paul stated in the second prayer he revealed to the Ephesians. Eph 3:14-19 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. KJV History has recorded for us the stories of some of those who have lived on our planet who have actually been filled with all the fulness of God. And the record tells us that they have been among the most important souls that have ever lived outside of the Lord Jesus and those that grace the pages of His Word. These have been the greatest men and women the world has ever seen and God has at times moved in power to answer their prayers. The words of Duncan Campbell concerning the Revival on Lewis Island, Scotland circa 1949: There are two things that I would like to say in speaking about the revival in the Hebrides. First, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I did not bring revival to the Hebrides. It has grieved me beyond words to hear people talk and write about the man who brought revival to the Hebrides. My dear people, I didn't do that. Revival was there before I ever set foot on the island. It began in a gracious awareness of God sweeping through the parish of Barvas. Then I would like to make it perfectly clear what I understand of revival. When I speak of revival, I am not thinking of high-pressure evangelism. I am not thinking of crusades or of special efforts convened and organized by man. That is not in my mind at all. Revival is something altogether different from evangelism on its highest level. Revival is a moving of God in the community and suddenly the community becomes God conscious before a word is said by any man representing any special effort. Now I am sure that you will be interested to know how, in November 1949, this gracious movement began on the island of Lewis. Two old women, one of them 84 years of age and the other 82 - one of them stone blind, were greatly burdened because of the appalling state of their own parish. It was true that not a single young person attended public worship. Not a single young man or young woman went to the church. And those two women were greatly concerned and they made it a special matter of prayer. A verse gripped them: "I will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." They were so burdened that both of them decided to spend so much time in prayer twice a week. On Tuesday they got on their knees at 10 o'clock in the evening and remained on their knees until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning - two old women in a very humble cottage. One night, one of the sisters had a vision. Now remember, in revival, God works in wonderful ways. A vision came to one of them, and in the vision she saw the church of her fathers crowded
with young people. Packed to the doors. And a strange minister standing in the pulpit. And she was so impressed by the vision that she sent for the parish minister. And of course he knowing the two sisters, knowing that they were two women who knew God in a wonderful way, he responded to their invitation and called at the cottage. That morning, one of the sisters said to the minister, "You must do something about it. And I would suggest that you call your office bearers together and that you spend with us at least two nights in prayer in the week. Tuesday and Friday if you gather your elders together, you can meet in a barn-a farming community, you can meet in a barn-and as you pray there, we will pray here. Well, that was what happened, the minister called his office bearers together and seven of them met in a barn to pray on Tuesday and on Friday. And the two old women got on their knees and prayed with them. Well that continued for some weeks--indeed, I believe almost a month and a half. Until one night-- now this is what I am anxious for you to get ahold of - one night they were kneeling there in the barn, pleading this promise, "I will pour water on him that is thirsty, floods upon the dry ground" when one young man, a deacon in the church, got up and read Psalm 24. "Who shall ascend the hill of God? Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing (not a blessing, but THE blessing) of the Lord." And then that young man closed his Bible. And looking down at the minister and the other office bearers, he said this - maybe crude words, but perhaps not so crude in our Gaelic language - he said, "It seems to me to be so much humbug to be praying as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting, if we ourselves are not rightly related to God." And then he lifted his two hands - and I'm telling you just as the minister told me it happened - he lifted his two hands and prayed, "God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?" But he got no further. That young man fell to his knees and then fell into a trance. Now don't ask me to explain this because I can't. He fell into a trance and is now lying on the floor of the barn. And in the words of the minister, at that moment, he and his other office bearers were gripped by the conviction that a God-sent revival must ever be related to holiness, must ever be related to Godliness. Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? The man that God will trust with revival - that was the conviction. When that happened in the barn, the power of God swept into the parish. And an awareness of God gripped the community such as hadn't been known for over 100 years. An awareness of God - that's revival, that's revival. And on the following day, the looms were silent, little work was done on the farms as men and women gave themselves to thinking on eternal things, gripped by eternal realities. One error that so many have made is the error of seeking after Power. God is a Good Parent. He does not turn immature children loose with His Power lest they damage themselves and others. If ever He gives power it is to those who, like the young man in the story, (whom I believe was a blacksmith by trade) humbly, earnestly, diligently, and with determination seek after Him for holiness.
God is sometimes willing to powerfully answer the prayers of those whose earnest target is to be right with Him in every way. This always has been the format for the unleashing of God s Mighty Acts. The Moravians were not seeking power when they began their 100 year prayer meeting, they were seeking to be holy and godly people. This was the hope that Paul was expressing in his prayers, that the Ephesian people would seek God, seek to be filled with His Spirit, that His Power might be revealed in them and among them. So, the question, Do we seek a repetition of what happened to the 12 at Ephesus? and the answer is no, unless you have a genuine apostle to pray for you and lay hands on you. Next question, Do we seek an outworking of the prayers of Paul as recorded in Ephesians 1 and 3? And, I hope your answer is yes, as we seek God s holiness in our lives, may His Power be poured out upon us! What I mean is that we must examine ourselves in the light of God s Word and put away from us every thing that is unholy and unclean. We must come to an understanding of what God has called us to be in a whole new way. The history of the people of God both in scripture and in the centuries since the Bible was completed is given to us to duplicate as much as possible in our lives, to seek to be genuinely godly people, people whom God will use and bless. We have no control over the Sovereign Good Pleasure of God, how He moves and when, but we have been given both the ability and the call to become people of the type He might use should He determine to bless us with His Presence. History records that the two things have quite often gone together. As we pray for Revival, let us seek to be holy like that young blacksmith in that old barn on the forgotten island of Lewis. And let us remember that God only uses clean vessels in His Service. Even the Tabernacle and the Temple taught us that. So, there is no lesson here to seek to speak in tongues but there is a lesson in the whole story of Paul s ministry at Ephesus that the people of God the everyday, ordinary people of God, should seek the powerful moving of the Spirit in their lives as they seek to know all they can about the Work of their Savior and how they may walk effectively and faithfully with Him.